This easy Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese is a delicious and crowd-pleasing side dish that compliments a variety of meals.
Mac and Cheese is a classic American side dish that it is loved by both kids and adults alike. And for good reason! What's not to love about tender noodles coated in a creamy cheese sauce and then baked to chewy perfection?! With this creamy Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese recipe, gluten-free eaters can still enjoy this comfort food staple. This GF Mac and Cheese has extra flavor from adding Dijon mustard and hot sauce to the mix - not enough to be predominant flavors in the dish, just enough to add some depth and complexity.
Serve Gluten-Free Baked Mac and Cheese with Southern Baked Chicken Thighs and American Cole Slaw for a balanced meal.
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Ingredients
Here's what you need to make Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese:
- milk
- salt
- black pepper
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- gluten-free elbow macaroni pasta
- Dijon mustard
- hot sauce
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here's how to make Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese:
First, in a pot, cook the gluten-free pasta according to the package directions. Then drain the pasta and return the empty pot to the stove over medium heat. Add the milk, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt and pepper to the pot, whisking to combine. Cook and stir until the mixture is hot, 5-10 minutes.
Add all but ½ cup of the shredded cheese to the pot with the milk, stirring to combine and continuing to cook and stir until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cooked and drained pasta. (At this point you can eat the macaroni as is or proceed with the directions to bake it.)
For baked macaroni and cheese, spread the pasta and cheese mixture into a greased baking dish and top with the reserved ½ cup of cheese. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes, then cool for 5 minutes prior to serving.
Hint: My family likes the top and edges of the mac and cheese to be a bit brown. If this doesn't happen during baking, I'll broil it for 2-5 minutes before serving to give the top a little color.
Substitutions
Want to substitute an ingredient in GF Mac and Cheese? Here's how:
- Cheddar cheese - use an equal amount of a different type of shredded cheese with a medium firmness such as gouda, colby jack or pepper jack.
- Elbow macaroni pasta - use an equal amount of a different shape of gluten-free pasta in place of the macaroni noodles.
- Dijon mustard - use regular yellow mustard in place of the dijon mustard or 1 teaspoon of ground mustard powder.
Variations
Try one of these variations of Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese:
- Spicy - add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, an extra 4 Tablespoons of hot sauce or ⅓ cup of diced jalapeno peppers to the cheese sauce prior to adding the pasta.
- Bacon - add ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon to the cheese sauce prior to adding the pasta.
Or try this Jalapeno Mac and Cheese recipe (but omit the flour and butter, use gluten-free pasta and follow the amounts and directions on this recipe for Gluten-Free Jalapeno Mac and Cheese.)
Equipment
This equipment comes in handy when making Gluten-Free Mac n Cheese:
Storage
Store cooled leftover Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the macaroni in an airtight container prior to baking or after baking for up to 3 months. (See this article for more information on freezing and thawing mac and cheese.)
Top tip
The flavor and texture of Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese are better when using freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Pre-shredded bagged cheese can be used in place of shredding your own cheese, just know it changes the texture and flavor of the dish a bit.
FAQ
Traditional mac and cheese has gluten in the pasta and also often has gluten in the form of flour used to thicken the sauce. So, yes, there is gluten in mac and cheese. Mac and cheese can be made gluten-free by eliminating the use of any flour and by using gluten-free pasta.
Related
Looking for other gluten-free recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
Serve this Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese with one of these dinner recipes for a balanced meal the whole family will love:
Recipe
Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz) box gluten-free elbow macaroni pasta
- 2 cups milk
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Return the empty pasta pot to the stove over medium heat. Add the milk, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt and pepper to the pot, whisking to combine. Cook and stir until the mixture is hot, 5-10 minutes.
- Add all but ½ cup of the shredded cheese to the pot with the milk, stirring to combine and continuing to cook and stir until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Then, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cooked pasta. (At this point you can eat the macaroni as is or proceed with the directions to bake it.)
- For baked macaroni and cheese, spread the pasta and cheese mixture into a greased baking dish and top with the reserved ½ cup of cheese. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes, then cool for 5 minutes prior to serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Shannon
The BEST Mac and Cheese!